The brand name sounds impressive—until the bill hits.

A new Princeton Review survey shows 98% of families say they need financial aid. Yet the top dream schools? MIT, Princeton, and Harvard. Prestige still drives choice—even when the numbers don’t add up.

🌱 Welcome to Future-Ready Parents—where we turn parenting worries into small, practical wins that build confident, tech-savvy kids (and calm, capable parents).

Today’s Tool: A “Fit Over Fame” College Decision Framework

If your teen just got into one of their dream schools and the aid package came up short, what’s your move?

Today’s tool gives you three practical questions to guide a more grounded, future-ready decision.

Why This Actually Matters

The default mindset for many families is simple:
“If they got into a top school, we’ll figure out how to make it work.”

But expectations are shifting. This year, 38% of families fear debt more than rejection, according to the Princeton Review’s latest report. Back in 2003, only 6% said that.

At the same time, employers are doubling down on skills-first hiring. In fast-changing industries, portfolios and hands-on experience often carry more weight than school names.

If we don’t help our kids reframe what “success” looks like, they may say yes to a name-brand college—and get four years of financial and emotional strain in return.

This 3-question tool gives you a way to shift that conversation without overcomplicating it. You’ll walk through goals, money, and emotional fit—so you and your teen can decide with clarity, not just ambition.

🛠 The Tool: Fit Over Fame – A 3-Question College Decision Check

Use this as a filter during college tours, after admissions letters arrive, or when comparing aid packages. It's not a checklist—it’s a decision lens.

1. What does this school actually do for your teen’s goals?
Look past the brochure. Is the program they care about well-developed?
Example: Your teen wants environmental design. NYU might be the dream—but Michigan’s track record, internships, and lab access could be stronger.
Ask: “What would you be learning, and who would you be learning it from?”

2. What’s the real cost—and is it manageable in their field?
Skip vague talk about “making it work.”
Ask: “If you borrowed $100,000 for this, what would it take to pay it back in your first job?”
Then pull up average salaries in their target field. This isn’t about crushing dreams—it’s about making sure the numbers don’t crush them later.

3. Will they thrive—or just survive—on that campus?
Prestige means nothing if your teen feels out of place, unsupported, or burnt out.
If they said, “Everyone felt intense,” or “I didn’t really see people like me there,” dig in.
Ask: “When you picture yourself there, what feels exciting—and what feels heavy?”

Want to use this tool today?
Grab a notepad. Jot the questions. Or screenshot this section. This isn’t about a perfect decision—it’s about one you both understand and believe in.

BEFORE YOU GO…

You don’t need perfect answers—just the right questions.

By guiding your teen through this process with clarity and calm, you’re modeling how to make thoughtful, values-aligned decisions. That’s leadership they’ll carry with them.

Until next time,
James Brauer
Founder, Future-Ready Parents